How a Bill Becomes a Law

Ideas for new laws can come from several places: The President Congress Citizens

See an actual House Bill No matter where the idea comes from, a Representative or Senator writes it as a bill and then introduces it into Congress. See an actual House Bill

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Once a bill is introduced, it is first _________ to a __________ that deals with that ______. assigned committee issue U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

influence citizens lobbyists The committee members get information, and listen to others who want to __________ them, including _________ & __________ influence citizens lobbyists

The committee members have three options: 1. _____ yes and the bill goes to the whole floor of the House or Senate. Vote 2. Put ______ the bill without a vote. (called tabling the bill or pigeonholing it) aside Kill 3. _____ the bill (vote “no”) and the bill dies in committee

If the committee votes “yes” on the bill, it then moves to the whole floor of the House or Senate for discussion, debate and changes. Can you tell which picture below is the House and which one is the Senate? How do you know? U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate

Once the bill is on the floor, several things can happen. The members can vote yes to _____ a ____ bill – this sends it over to the other ______. pass new house 2. The members can vote yes to _____ the ______ exact bill as the other house – this sends it to the President. pass same

THE FLOOR kill pass different no 3. The members can vote yes to _____ a __________ version of the bill – this sends it to a conference committee. pass different kill 4. The members can vote ___ to _____ the bill – the bill stops here, dead. no

If both houses pass different versions of the same bill, the bill is sent to a conference committee. The conference committee includes members of the House and Senate and they try to work out a compromise. 1. Who do you think the animals represent? 2. What do you think the cartoonist means?

In the conference committee, if the committee members all ______, the bill goes back to each house for a final vote. agree don’t If the members _____ come to an agreement, the bill stops here and dies.

Once the bill is finally passed by both houses, it goes to the President. 1. _____ - The President approves the bill and signs it. Now it is a ____. Sign law

But what if the President does not like the bill and won’t sign it? VETO What is that called?

But, there is still hope for the bill! Congress has the power to ________ the President’s veto. This can be difficult because it takes 2/3 of both houses to agree to override. override